NICOSIA, Cyprus — Barcelona’s Lionel Messi scored a hat trick to shatter the Champions League goalscoring record on Tuesday by taking his tally in the competition to 74. The previous record of 71 had been set by former Real Madrid and Schalke striker Raul over the course of 142 matches.
Raul’s record fell when Messi struck his first in the 38th minute against APOEL in Group F to give Barcelona a 2-0 lead after Luis Suarez had opened the scoring. It was Messi’s 91st match in Europe’s top club competition.
He then struck again in the 58th and 87th minutes.
It was his 28th Barcelona hat trick, and his fifth in the Champions League.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.